Condenser apparatus



May 21, 1940. J. w. McNULTY 2,201,783

CONDENSER APPARATUS Filed June 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Shet 1 n2 I-I[ J 1! F'F J I lie.

INVENTOR Jonu W MCNULTYZ BY v .9, M

ATTORNEY WKM J. W. McNULTY CONDENSER- APPARATUS May 21, 1940.

Filed June 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NTOR flew McNuwv.

BY IIII b. 75 M Q ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES trier.

, 2,201,733 CONDENSER APPARATUS Pennsylvania Application June 11, 1938, Serial No. 213,143

3 Claims.

This invention relates to surface condensers and more particularly to cooling water circulating systems therefor, and has for an object the provision of improved apparatus of this character.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multi-pass condenser having an air cooler, and means for preventing warmed water from the condensing tubes entering the tubes of the air cooler.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a condenser designed for either twopass or four-pass operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a surface condenser whose inlet tube plate may be flushed straight across to remove accumulated refuse therefrom.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a condenser designed for either twopass or four-pass operation, with provision for back-washing with either type of operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a condenser which will operate backwashing with no noticeable loss in efiiciency, whereby the direction of flow of water therethrough may be periodically reversed with the advantage incident theretoof reduced tube wear.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a condenser embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View, taken on the line vII--II of Fig. l; and,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, there is shown, at H], a surface condenser comprised by a shell H having an exhaust steam inlet [2 and a condensate outlet 12a. Tube plates l3 and I4 close the opposite ends of the shell, and have associated therewith water boxes l6 and Il, respectively. A plurality of tubes extend longitudinally through the shell, and have their terminal portions supported by the tube plates [3 and I4.

The water box I6 is provided with a longitudinally extending, vertical partition 18, providing reversing chambers I9 and 2|.

The water box ll is provided with two longitudinal baffies 22 and 23, extending generally vertically, and providing chambers 24, 26, and 21, having inlets 28, 29, and 3!, respectively, the inlets having valves 32, 33, and 34, connecting them with a supply header, (not shown). Similarly, the chambers 24, 26, and 21 have outlets 3t, 37!, and 38, respectively, controlled by valves 39, til, and il connecting them with a discharge header, (not shown). its respective inlet and outlet located in opposed relation, at opposite ends thereof. With this arrangement, the face of the inlet tube plate I4 may be flushed straight across to remove accumulat'd simply by opening the valves at each end of the section of the tube plate to be .fiushed.

For normal four-pass operation of the condenser, water enters at 28 and discharges at 38, While'for back-washing, the water enters at 3| and discharges at 36. For normal two-pass operation, water enters at 28 and M and discharges at 3?, while, for back-washing, it enters at 29 and discharges at 36 and 38.

A bailie' 42 is provided within the shell ll, extending longitudinally thereof, and approximately from the vertical plane of symmetry to one side thereof, (Fig. 3). This baiile separates the tubes of the first and second pass into relatively large upper condensing sections and relatively small lower air cooler sections. The reversing chamber l9 of the water box I6 is provided with a portion 43 located to correspond generally with the partition 42 within the shell, and providing chambers 44 and 46, the chamber at being in communication with the condensing tubes of the first and second passes, and the chamber 45 being in communication only with the tubes of the air cooler. The air cooler is provided with an air offtake 45 for the discharge of air and non-condensable gases from the shell.

Due to the provision of the partition 43 in the reversing chamber IS, the water which has been warmed by passage through any of the condensing tubes is excluded from the air cooler tubes, and only cold entering water is allowed to pass through the latter, resulting in a highly efiicient air cooler in the condensing unit. As a result of this arrangement of the reversing chamber partition, the apparatus performs with no noticeable difference whether running normal or back-washing, and it has been found practical to reverse the direction of flow of water through the system at definite periods, such as every eight hours or every twelve hours, thus minimizing the wear at the ends of the tubes, as well as washing the tube plates.

While I have shown by invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of Each inlet chamber has various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a surface condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet and a condensate outlet; a plurality of tubes extending longitudinally through the shell; tube plates at opposite ends of the shell for supporting the ends of the tubes; a first water box structure cooperating with one of said tube plates; a pair of upright partitions within said water box structure for dividing the interior thereof into first, second, and third chambers extending generally vertically from top to bottom of the water box and with the second chamber arranged between the first and third chambers; inlet connections for the respective lower portions of the chambers; outlet connections for the respective upper portions of the chambers; a second water box structure associated with the other of said tube plates; a partition within said second water box structure for dividing the interior thereof into two chambers extending generally vertically from top to bottom of the water box, the plane of the last-mentioned partition being substantially midway of the planes of the first-mentioned partitions and the three partitions separating the tubes into first, second, third, and fourth groups; and a valve in each of said connections for controlling the flow of water therethrough.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower connections for the respective first, second and third chambers are arranged in opposed and approximately alined relation.

3. In a surface condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet and a condensate outlet; a

plurality of tubes extending longitudinally through the shell; tube plates at opposite ends of the shell for supporting the ends of the tubes; a first water box structure cooperating with one of said tube plates; a pair of upright partitions within said water box structure for dividing the interior thereof into first, second, and third chambers extending generally vertically from top to bottom of the water box and with the second chamber arranged between the first and third 10 chambers; an inlet connection for the lower portion of each chamber; an outlet connection for the upper portion of each chamber; a second water box structure associated with the other of said tube plates; a partition within said second 15 water box structure for dividing the interior thereof into two chambers extending generally vertically from top to bottom of the water box, the plane of the last-mentioned partition being substantially midway of the planes of the first- 20 mentioned partitions and the three partitions separating the tubes into first, second, third, and fourth groups; a valve in each of said connections for controlling the flow of water therethrough; a baiiie in the shell and cooperating 23 with the lower portion of the latter at one side to define an air cooler space; said bafile extending inwardly from the shell and incorporating lower portions of the first and second groups of tubes in said air cooler space; a partition in one of the .10 chambers of the second water box structure for dividing such chamber into upper and lower compartments and the partition being substantially alined with said baffle, whereby water passing through the lower portion of the first group of tubes is constrained to flow entirely through the lower portion of the second group of tubes and vice versa; and an air offtake connection communicating with said air cooler space.

JOHN W. MCNULTY. 

